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Phytologta (April 1992) 72(4):253-255. A NEW SPECIES OF BRACHYTHECIUM FROM LATIN AMERICA (BRACHYTHECIACEAE, MUSCI) ! Kenneth D. McFarland Botany Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1100 U.S.A. ABSTRACT Brachythecium cirriphylloides McFarlandis described as anew species for Latin America. KEY WORDS: Musci, Brachytheciaceae, Brachythecium, Latin America Brachythecium cirriphylloides McFarland, sp. nov. HOLOTYPE: MEX- ICO. Mexico: Popocatepetl, on slopes ca. 2,900 m.s.m., March 4, 1932, H. Proferstrom et E. Hulten s.n. (MICH!); Isotypes: TENN!,US! Caules decumbentesvelerecti teretes. Folia siveerecta-imbricata sive reclusa sive incipientia reclusa fieri, profunde concava, longa, latedecurrentia,leviterplicata, siveovata-lanceolata sivelateovata, sive incipientia ovata fieri, et aut gradatim contracta ad longos apices aut late ovata et abrupte constricta ad longos filiformes apices, cum nervo tenui prope medium foliorum; cellulae alares, ab aliis cellulae leniter distinctae, sive quadratae sive rectangu- lares, extendentes ad decurrentia. Dioicus. Setae dense papillosae; capsula horizontalia, annulus compositus ex duabus seriebus ac- crescentium cellularum, cilia nodosa vel appendiculata. Cetera ig- nota. 'A portion of a dissertation entitled "Revision of Brachythecium [Musci] for Mexico, Central America, South America, Antarctica and Circum-subantarctic Islands" submitted by the author to the Graduate SchoolofThe University ofTennessee at Knoxville in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the Doctor ofPhilosophy Degree in Botany. 253 PHYTOLOGIA 254 volume 72(4):253-255 April 1992 Plants medium sized to robust, loosely to densely matted. Stems decum- bent to erect, terete, infrequently and irregularly to subpinnately branched; branches terete, ± tapering at tips; pseudoparaphyllia orbicular, long apic- ulate. Stem leaves 1.6-2.7 X 0.7-1.4 mm, erect-imbricate to open erect and lamina ± crumpled when dry, becoming smooth when moist, deeply concave, with short to long broad decurrencies, lightly plicate, broadly ovate or broadly cordate-ovate, abruptly constricted into long filiform apices, or ovate- mm lanceolate with gradually long tapering apices, apices 0.4-0.8 long; margins recurved at base, plane above, serrulate to serratein apices, serrulate or nearly entire below; costae broad at base quickly tapering above and ending near mid- dle (50%) ± in an inconspicuous spine. Median leaf cells fusiform to linear 53.6-102.6 X 5.7-11.4 itm; apical cells similar 42.2-115.1 X 5.7-8.0 p-m; basal cells slightly broader, rectangular, pitted 34.2-108.3 X 8.0-19.4 /zm; alar cells not distinctly differentiated, quadrate to rectangular, extending into decurrencies 12.5-47.9 X 8.0-20.5 /zm. Branch leaves 1.2-1.9 X 0.4-0.9 mm, concave, slightly decurrent, not plicate, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate; margins serrate. mm Dioicous. Setae 15.0-20.0 long, densely papillose throughout, dark red- brown. Capsules 2.0 X 1.0 mm, horizontal, short oblong-ovoid, curved, dark red-brown; cilia 1-2, nodose to appendiculate; annulus of two rows of inflated cells. Spores 9.9-16.5, finely papillose. The rest unknown. COMMENTS Brachythecium cirriphylloides appears confined to Central America and northern South America, growing on moist, shaded soil, tree trunks, and rock. It is distributed in the high mountain ranges: in Boyaca and Cundinamarca, Colombia 3100-3620 m; Quezaltenango and Sacatepequez, Guatemala 2200- 3000 m; Mexico, Michoacan, and Veracruz, Mexico 1524-3000 m; and Merida, Venezuela 2900 m. The species remained anonymous in the literature and among herbarium specimens because it was either left unnamed or misnamed as Brachythecium alboflavens auct. div., B. flexiventrosum auct. div., or B. rutabulurn auct. div. Failure to recognize this species was complicated further by its typically sterile condition and marked resemblance to these and other sympatric species. Brachythecium cirriphylloides is distinguished from other brachythecia in theregion byits larger size, dioicous condition, leaves that are broadly cordate- ovate with abruptly formed long apices, small basal and alar cells, and papillose setae. Brachythecium cirriphylloides resembles B. chocayae Herz. in size, growth form, and general leaf shape and areolation. Brachythecium chocayae differs in being autoicous, having setae with low papillae, leaves not as broadly ovate, and lacking abruptly formed apices. Brachythecium conostomum(Tayl.) Jaeg. has similar leafform and dioicous condition, but is smaller with morelax McFa.rla.nd: New Brachythtcium from Latin America 255 leaf areolation and smooth setae. Brachythecium rutabulum (Hedw.) B.S.G. is similar in growth form, size, papillose setae, and general leaf shape, but differs in being autoicous, having lax basal cells, lax to inflated alar cells, less broadly ovate leaves, and much shorter apices. Robust specimens of B. stere- opoma (Spruce ex Mitt.) Jaeg. are similar in dioicy, and general leaf form, but differ in the more compact growth form, narrower leaves, shorter apices, larger basal and alar cells, and smooth setae. Brachythecium cimphylloideabears someresemblanceto B. curtum(Lindb.] Limpr., a circumboreal, North Temperate species, in the general leaf form, papillose setae, and appendiculate cilia; however, B. curtum is autoicous, with leaves bearing shorter apices, and cells more lax in the basal and alar regions. There is a certain resemblance between Brachythecium cimphylloides and some taxa in Cirriphyllum sensu Grout. They share dioicy, papillose setae, similar plant size, growth form, and concave broadly ovate leaves with filiform apices. However, since the shape and prominence ofthe opercula are unknown for this species, a more critical and definite comparison with Cirriphyllum is reserved at this time. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank Dr. Christopher P. Craig, of the Classics Department The University of Tennessee for assistance in the Latin description, Dr. Harold Robinson (US), and Dr. David K. Smith (TENN) for their reviews and comments on the manuscript, and the curators ofthe following herbaria COL,FH, FLAS,MICH,TENN,U, and US, for the loan of specimens.